Staff Sergeant Felix Padilla joined the West Point Band as bass trombone in 2019. He completed his Masters in Music from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of James Markey, of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Prior to this, Staff Sgt. Padilla studied with Dr. Bradley Palmer, Professor of Trombone at Columbus State University (B.M. ‘17). Other teachers include: Toby Oft, Steve Lange, Norman Bolter, Mike Roylance, and Joseph Vascik.
Staff Sgt. Padilla has performed numerous concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra. He was the winner of the 2018 Southeast Trombone Symposium’s S.E. Shires Solo Competition, as well as the runner-up of the Orchestral Excerpts competition. Other honors include finalist of the International Trombone Association’s Edward Kleinhammer Competition and American Trombone Workshop Division II.
Staff Sgt. Padilla can be heard on the Columbus State University Trombone Ensemble's recent album Full Tilt as a soloist on Brad Edwards’ “Memories of the Spirit” and as an ensemble member on various other tracks, as well as in James Markey’s album Psychedelia. Staff Sgt. Padilla is a performing artist for Edwards Instrument Company.
